How to Answer: How do you ensure successful communication with others, even if they are are not easy to get along with?
Advice and answer examples written specifically for an Epidemiologist job interview.
20. How do you ensure successful communication with others, even if they are are not easy to get along with?
How to Answer
Effective spoken communication requires being able to express your ideas and views clearly, confidently and concisely in speech, tailoring your content and style to the audience and promoting free-flowing communication. Sometimes in the work area, this isn't as easy as it should be. Personality conflicts may get in the way of effective communication. Tell the interviewer how you present correct, clear and concise information to your team.
Written by Heather Douglass
Anonymous Interview Answers with Professional Feedback
Anonymous Answer
"I have been in situations where I had a new team member that was initially not easy to get along with. My strategy is simple, I chose to have 1-1 conversations with the team member to discuss their preferred communication style, what they want to get out of this job, and what they are grateful for. Meeting in the middle ground with people that are not easy to get along with is better than a team member who is not participative with the team."
Marcie's Feedback
Great! This sounds like a good way to tackle a communication problem. Can you talk more about your communication style? How did it differ from a difficult team member, and how did you overcome this? Be specific. You might also talk about how important it is to listen to the other person, pay attention to body language, think before you speak, and ask for feedback. There are lots of ways you can improve communication with a challenging team member; make sure to talk through some of these with the interviewer. Good job!